Holly Clarke introduced by James Fagan

Holly Clarke, a singer who draws from the old ballads and stories, conjures a performance that immediately captivates any listener. As a performer, Holly transports the listener into the heart of ballads, immersing them in the narratives that have shaped humanity’s experience through time. From songs of the supernatural and folklore, to tales of love and loss, Holly sings with an infectious energy and passion for traditional song.

Rising in popularity among folk audiences and performing with the likes of Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Daoirí Farrell and Queer Folk and supporting the folk icon Martin Carthy, Holly Clarke has made a name for herself as a powerful singer and accomplished guitar player, performing at festivals and venues such as The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Cecil Sharp House, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Bromyard Folk Festival, The Fire Station Sunderland and many, many more.

Alongside Holly’s affinity for traditional ballads, she is a strong composer in her own right, with her tune compositions performed by Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle legend Annbjørg Lien and Shetland’s very own Catriona Macdonald. Outside of performing, between 2019 to 2020 Holly was The Glasshouse International Centre for Music’s Artist in Residence, specialising in Traditional Folk Song and Ballads. As of 2022, Holly began organising her concert series Folk is Queer; an event which platforms Queer folk musicians in the North East, supporting them to make connections with existing and new audiences and other Queer artists from outside the region.

As well as performing solo, Holly has a duo with George Sansome (Granny’s Attic) and also gigs with her trio ‘Holly and the Reivers,’ featuring Newcastle-based musicians Bertie Armstrong (Banjo and Voice) and Merle Harbron (Fiddle and Voice), with whom she supported the legendary Billy Bragg at Folk on the Tyne Festival. Holly is an artist not to be missed, who brings the best of traditional song and contemporary composition into every performance.

About the Gig

This event will be held live on Zoom, with a remote sound engineer for high-quality sound. Our gigs allow interaction between artists and audiences, so the artist can hear you applaud and you can even have the chance to ask them any burning questions.

Tickets are £18, with the option to pay a bit less (£12) or a bit more (£30) depending on what is affordable for you. You only need one ticket per household.

For more info and tickets, visit the link below.